Device for using tape



June 20, 1950 a. H. FRITZINGER DEVICE FOR USING TAPE Filed July 31, 1947Patented June 20, 1950 DEVICE FOR USING TAPE George H. Fritzinger, WestOrange, N. J assignor one-half to Harold G. Kendall, BrooklynApplication July 31, 1947, Serial No. 765,139

20 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing adhesive tape having apressure-sensitive adhesive surface, especially the clear tapes made ofcellulose, acetate, etc. More particularly, the invention relates todevices for dispensing and simultaneously applying varied selectedlengths of pressure-sensitive tape to objects by movement of the devicesthereacross, such devices being herein referred to as taping devices.

In the pending application S. N. 616,785 of Harold G. Kendall, filedSeptember 17, 1945, and having common ownership with the presentapplication, there is disclosed the broad principle, in the art ofdispensing pressure-sensitive tape, of drawing tape from the supplyroll, as an incident of severing the tape, to make available a startinglength for a succeeding dispensing operation. The present inventionrelates to novel and improved dispensing devices incorporating thisprinciple which are small and compart and of very simple construction,and which have a thoroughly positive and dependable operation. While myinvention is particularly adapted to taping devices, and is hereinillustrated and described in terms of such devices, it will beunderstood that the invention has application also to dispensing devicesof the type wherein the dispensed lengths are picked up and applied byhand, as well as to other dew'ces, and that no unnecessary limitation totaping devices is therefore intended. I

In carrying out the aforestated principle according to my invention, atape guide is normally positioned to project a leading portion of thetape into a dispensing or tape-application-starting position. When it isdesired to sever a dispensed length of tape from the tape supply, theguide is retracted in a back-feeding direction to cause the tape, at adistance in advance thereof, to be drawn against a blade and severed. Inthe present invention, this retraction of the guide and severing of thetape is effected positively by a manually actuatable member of thedevice. To enable the device to be very small and compact I retract theguide in a direction generally towards the supply roll and doconcurrently give the free tape between the guide and roll a circuitouspath so as to draw the necessary tape from the roll to make available asucceeding starting length ahead of the guide when the guide isreturned. This means for severing the tape and providing a succeedingstarting length is hereinafter referred to generally as the operatingmechanism of the device.

It is an object of my invention to eflect the the feed resistance of thetape during the severing operation.

it is another object to provide an operating mechanism for devices ofthe character described, which can be worked idly without causingbackfeeding of the tape and loss of the starting length for a succeedingdispensing operation.

It is another object to couple the manually actuatable member to theoperating mechanism so that the latter can be worked with a minimumactuatin force. a A

It is another object to provide a novel and simp.e form of taping deviceof a small size adapted to be held and operated by the hand and to becarried in the pocket or the like.

It is another object to provide a taping device having a pressure rolleron a fixed axis and an operating mechanism normally presenting astarting length of tape beside the roller to enable the start of a tapeapplication without requiring any special manipulation of the device.

It is another object to provide such taping device having a singlecontrol depressible to sever the tape and make available a succeedingstarting length.

It is another object to provide such taping device which requires nospecial or unnatural positioning of the device in relation to an objectto start a tape application or to sever the applied length from the tapesupply at the end of an application.

Another object is to provide such taping device which enables the tapeto be withdrawn by a minimum force so that the device can be used totape thin flexible sheets without causing them to be buckled.

It is a further object to latch the operating mechanism of such tapingdevice in its actuated position so as to hold the starting length in aconcealed and protected position within the device as when the device ishandled idly, carried in the pocket or laid aside for further use.

These and other objects and features of my invention will be apparentfrom the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of my invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, of a preferred embodiment of tapingdevice according to my invention, showing only a portion of the sidecover and showing the operating mechanism in normal position to enablethe start of a tape application;

3 Figure 2 is a back elevational view ofthis taping device;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of this device; Figures 4 and 5 aredetailed sectional views of parts of the operating mechanism:

Figure a is a detailed view illustrating the manner of releasablyholding the side covergin place;

Figure '7 showing the operating mechanism in its actuated position; I

Figure 8 is a fractional section taken substantially on theline 3-8 ofFig. 8; and

Figure 9 is a view. similar to Figure 1, showing a modified embodimentofmy invention.

The taping device shown in Figures 1 through 8 is provided with ahousing It having a pear shape, as viewed from the side, and a uniformthickness. This housing is split on a medial plane ll into nearlyidentical sections l2 and [3. The section [2 is a permanent part of thehousing which carries the whole operating mechanism of the device, andthe section I8 is a removable side cover. The housing sections arepreferably formed from thin metal stock by stamping. Each section has acontinuous rim flange, designated by the number of the section with thesuffix letter a, which runs along the back, top and front of thehousing. These flanges meet at the medial plane I I to close the housingexcept at the bottom.

Staked to the permanent housing section l2, at the center of its uppercircular portion, is a post I which extends throughout the thicknessdimension of the housing. This post has a pe-- ripheral groove near itsouter end forming a head Ila on the post. In the cover l3 there is acorresponding hole I! which has an inwardly turned edge iia. This edgehas two diametrically opposite slots engaged by a U-shaped snap springI. This spring is adapted to snap over the is a fractional view. partlyin section,

forming a seat for the supply roll. In the host ll just beyond the outerend of the core there is a peripheral groove into which a ,U spring 23is snapped to retainthecore on the post.

Extending beyond the lowermost part of the housing is a pressure roller24 comprising a sleeve of yieldable material. such as rubber or suitableplastic, mounted on a metal tube and Journalled on a pin 25 that iscarried at its ends by the two legs I. of the bracket 11. Also, betweenthe two legs I! of the bracket I1. is a U-shaped support member 28 whichis pivoted on a pin 21 carried at its ends by the bracket II, this pivotpin the guide roller and the pressure roller 24, and

its adhesive side is exposed for contact with an object to be taped.Initially, as will'hereinafter be fully apparent, there is a startinglength T head a, as the cover is mounted, to hold the there is aninwardly offset and downwardly extending tongue I! which hooks onto theleft leg of the bracket I! just inwardly from the transverse part Ila ofthis bracket so as to lock the I lower portion of the cover to thepermanent housing section. To remove the cover, the upper portionthereof is pulled apart from the housing section l2, with a pivotalmovement about the tongue I! as a center, until the spring [8 isdisengaged from the head a, the back comer of the rim flange lie of thecover being rounded at l3b to permit this pivotal movement as shown inFigure 2.

The post II has a peripheral flange 20 at its base which forms a bearinghereinafter described,

Journalled on the post ll, beyond the flange 20, is a core 2| for asupply roll 22 of pressuresensitive tape. This core hasan axiallyextending portion 2la of reduced diameter at its inner end which abutsagainst the flange 20 and spaces the inner wall of the core therefrom.Also, the core has a peripheral flange 2": at its inner end of tapeprojecting ahead of the guide roller and beside the pressure roller toenable the start of a' tape application simply by setting the device onan object and moving the device forwardly 'on the pressure roller. Thisstarting length T is retained against the guide roller 3| by a leafspring 32 which is secured at 32 as by spot welding to an upwardlyextending portion of the right leg 28 of the support member 26. From itsbase end this spring extends downwardly, at a clearance distance fromthe free tape drawn from the supply roll, and then rearwardly toterminate in a lip 32a that bears against the adhesive side of the tapebacked by the guide roller. This lip is inclined to the axis of theguide roller so that only an edge thereof contacts the tape. This isdone so that the spring 32 will have little drag resistance on the feedof the tape and so that the tape can be easily threaded between theguide roller and the spring when a new roll is installed in the device.In addition to these functions the spring 32 also serves to retain theguide roller Journalled in the open-ended slots 30.

Pivoted 0n the flange 20 of the post It is a vertically extending lever34 which lies adjacent the side wall of the housing section l2 except atits upper end portion. On the lower end of this lever there is secured apin 35 which extends through a slot 36 in the right leg 29 of thesupport members 26 and onwardly throughout the width of the tape. Thispin is spaced normally from the adhesive side of the tape extendingbetween the supply roll and the guide roller 3!. Journalled on this pinis a roller 31 (Figure 4) which is herein referred to as an idler rollerbecause it is used to tension and pull the tape from 1 the supply rollduring a tape-severing operation,

as will hereinafter appear.

The actuating means for the lever 34 comprises a manually depressibleplunger 38 which lies adjacent the side wall of the housing section i 2,above the center of the supply roll 22, and extends rearwardly through aslot 38 in the housing wall l2a to terminate into a flngerpiecelll. Thisplunger has a forwardly extending finger 4| which is guided between twolugs 42 turned in. from the side wall of the housing section l2. Also,the plunger has an inwardly extending lug 43 which 34, this. upperportion of the lever being ofiset inwardly at 45 so as to clear theplunger (Figure 2);" The plunger is urged outwardly of the housing by a.leaf spring 46 secured by riveting to the bottom portion of the rearhousing wall Ru and having the upper free end thereof in engagement witha slit 4'! in the plunger.

In response to the bias action of the spring 43, the lever 34 is urgedcounterclockwise into a limiting position defined by the abutment of thepin 35-against the forward end of the slot 36 (Figure l). Also by thisengagement of the pin 35 with the slot 36 the support member 26 is heldin normal position wherein the guide roller 3| lies adjacent to thepressure roller. As the plunger 38 is depressed the lever 34 is turnedclockwise to ,ngmove th idler roller 31 against the adhesive side of thetape along an are about the center of the supply roll 22; at the sametime the lever 34 turns the support member 26, by reason of theengagement of the pin 35 with the slot 38, so as to move the guideroller 3| in a back-feeding direction from the pressure roller andtowards the supply ml 22, A feature of the present. invention is toextend the slot 36 substantially along an are about the guide roller 3|as a center so that the idler roller 31 is always at a substantiallyfixed distance from the guide roller. In so doing, since the idlerroller is always at a fixed distance from the supply roll, the length ofthe tape between the guide roller and the supply roll is held fixedthroughout the forward and return strokes of the operatingmechanism.Consequently. upon holding the tape from back-feeding at the pressureroller during the forwand stroke, a length of tape equal to the distanceof retraction of the guide roller from the pressure roller is drawn fromthe supply roll to provide a starting length T for a succeedingapplication as illustrated in Figure 7. Also, by maintaining a fixedlength of path between the guide roller and the supply roll there isless tendency for the tape to back-feed when the operating mechainsmisworked idly as will be apparent.

As the guide roller is retracted from the pressure roller the pathbetween these two elements is shifted towards a blade 48 for severingthe tape. The severing is caused to occur adjacent to the pressureroller and at a distance ahead of ser because of its limited lateralfreedom of movement. when the support member 26 is swungcounterclockwise to retract the guide roller from the pressure roller,the blade 43 is projected forwardly into the position shown in Figure 7.The forward cutting edge of the blade is pointed (Figure 3) so that inresponse to the tensioning of the tape the tape is drawn against theblade and severed. The tensioning is eflected so long as the tape isheld against back-feeding at the pressure roller since the drawing offof the tape from the supply roll which then occurs as the guide rolleris retracted will produce a tensioning to cause positive severing of thetape.

By maintaining a fixed length of tape between the guide roller and thesupply roll during a tape-severing operation, it is assured that theguide roller may return to normal position without causing anyback-feeding of the tape relative thereto. While they operatingmechanism might be arranged to pull even greater lengths from the rollduring severing, this would ordinarily be undesirable, because it wouldmake the plunger 38 harder to work.

There are a number of features in the present device which reducegreatly the amount of force required to depress the plunger to effect atapesevering operation. Several of these operate to reduce the dragresistance on the tape. It is for instance important that the memberwhich contacts the tape to effect the tape withdrawal-the roller 3'|befreely journalled. Additionally it is important that this roller have anuneven peripheral surface so that it has a minimum adhesive contact withthe tape. This latter desired condition is realized by fluting theroller lengthwise thereof (Figure 5) and by providing it with a seriesof peripheral grooves 54 (Figure 4). Additionally, as aforementioned,the inclining of the spring32 so that it engages the tape only at anedge thereof is important in lowering the feed the guide roller so thata succeeding starting length is provided as described. Preferably, tosecure positive cutting action and uniform starting lengths I move theblade to project it into the path of the tape in addition to moving thepath thereto as afore-explained. This is accomplished verysatisfactorily by mounting the blade 48 directly above the pressureroller between the two bracket legs l8. This blade has two projectingcars 43 near its forward end which slide in respective open-ended guideslots 50 provided in the bracket legs l8. The width of the blade is justslightly less than the spacing betweenthe bracket legs so that theblade'is held from any substantial sidewise play. In the rearward partof the blade there is a rectangular hole 5| (Figure 3) which receivesthe lower end of 2. depending finger 52 on the transverse portion of thesupport member 26. This finger is nearly as wide as the hole 5| but hasa slit 53 to give it a portion of narrower width near the end thereof(Figure 8). The finger and hole 5| are so positioned laterally of thedevice that when they are assembled between the bracket legs It theblade will be prevented from becoming disengaged from the finresistance.

A still further feature incorporated in the present device for thepurpose of lessening the force required'to actuate the plunger 38 is indistributing evenly the work of the plunger throughout its stroke. It isto be noted that in the first part of the forward stroke of the plunger38 the only action is to swing the idler roller 31 into contact with thetape and to move the pin 35 through the slot 36. During the remainder ofthe stroke, however, tape is drawn from the supply roll. This withdrawaloccurs at an increasing rate for a given rate of movement of the lever34, with the result that the operation of the plunger 38 at the end ofits stroke would tend to be hard. To relieve this condition, the slot 44is inclined to the radius of the lever 34 so that the force transmissionrate of the coupling between the plunger and lever 34 is at anincreasing rate.

If the operating mechanism of the device is worked idlyi. e., withoutthe tape being held from back-feeding at the pressure roller 24- thereis a tendency for the tape gradually to back-feed to lose the startinglength ahead of the guide roller 3|. This may be prevented by having thespring 32 bear against the tape with a heavy pressure. However, Ipreferably place a brake on the idler roller 31 to allow it'to movefreely in a forward direction-the direction of movement during severingof the tape-but lock it against movement in a reverse direction. Thisbrake comprises a leaf spring 55 on a lug 56 of the lever 34 whichengages theflutes in the roller to operate as a ratchet (Figure 5).

7 The present deyiceiiearranged so thetthe 01 erating mechanism canbe'readily latched in its.

actuated position to hold the starting length'l in a retracted positionwherein it"is protected by the housing as while the device is laidaside, carried in the pocket and the like. The latch comprises simply alip El turned inwardlyfrom the housing at theto p of the clearance slot3! for the plunger 38. and a recess in the outer part oi the I plungerto provide the plunger with a hook II,

The latching is effected, while holding the plunger depressed, simply byraising the plunger about the lugs 42 asa pivot center and thenreleasing the-same to engage the hook-5Q with the lip II.

A precautionary safety feature to prevent fouling the operation of thedevice is to position the spring 32 back of the guide roller 3| so thatwhen the guide roller is in a retracted position, it and the spring 32will serve normally to project the tape away fromthe cutting bladeimmediately following a severingqoperation, as illustrated in Figure 7.This is to prevent the end of the tape V supply from being held to theblade, such as by strands of adhesive after the severing operation,- andfrom-being buckled onto the blade'as the guide roller is returned to itsnormal position;

However, since the guide roller is normally very close to the pressureroller the tape will be moved into adhesive contact with the pressureroller if -such buckling does not occur and will be carried out by thepressure roller into normal position during the initial advance of thedevice across an object.

In Figure 9 there is shown a modified embodiment of my inventioncomprising a housing ill generally similar to the housing It andembodying also the principle 0! drawin'gta'pe from the supply roll as anincident of severing the tape so.

as to make available a succeeding starting length without need for anyindependent feeding operation. In the upper part of the housing Illthere sure roller 65 which projects below the housing.

Just ahead of this pressure roller there is a blade 66 fixedly securedby screws 61 to cars 61a. on the frame member and right side wall.

Just ahead of the blade 86 there is a guide roller 68 having a normalposition on the level of the pressure roller as shown. This guide'rolleris journalled on a pin 69 that is carried by a U-shaped support memberID. This support member has two depending legs 'Il' journalled also onthe pin 64 at the ends of the pressure roller. The right leg of thissupport member extends upwardly towards the supply roll and carries aleaf spr 12 the lowerfree end of which bears slidab against the frontside of the guide roller. In this right leg of the support member thereis a long slot 13 which. is engaged slidably by a pin 14 carried on thelowerend of a lever I! thatis pivoted at I6 to the upper portion of thehousing. This lever has an upwardly extending arm H which projectsrearwardly through a slot 18 in the rear wall of the housing andterminates as in-the foregoing embodiment.

. when theflsupplyroll is installed first tilted forwardly to' bring thestartlnglength into adhesive contact with an object to betapedr holding'it stationary with-the pressure roller pressed against the object. Asthis is done, the guide roller is raised and the idler roller is pressedsidewise against the free tape to draw tape from the roll to makeavailable a succeeding starting length; As the guide roller israised'the tapeis drawn against the cutting edge of the blade and issevered. Following the severing the guide roller will be returned toinitial positionbythe spring upon release of the finger-piece "andwithout back-feeding of. the tape relative thereto,

because of the tape drawn from the roll prelimithe guide roller isinitially raised to effect a severin a finger-piece 18. The lever isbiased into the position shown by a spring Ill. when the lever is inthis position, the support member is locked by the engagement of the pin14 with a dwell 18a only take hold of the starting length andsimultaneously actuate the operating mechanism to. retract the guide andsever the tape, leaving the .user with a dispensed set length of tape inhis hand for subsequent application as desired. Also, it will beapparent that many modifications and changes maybe made in theparticular embodiments herein shown without departure from the scope ofmy invention, which I endeavor to express in the following claims.

I claim: I I 1. In a device for dispensing lengths of pressuresensitivetape from a supply roll including a sup- .port for said roll: thecombination of means for holding a leading portion of a free length ofsaid tape in a dispensing position, means for moving said holding meansfrom said dispensing position and towards said roll, means operativelycoupled at the endo! the slot". is on the. rightleg of the supportmember I. atransverse pin -on" which there is journalled an idlerroller, ll. Thisroller extends. throughout the widtbiof the-tape and isprovided to draw tape from the supply roll-during a severing operation,the same y ,free isjdrawndownwardly therefrom, to the .o'ftheidlerji'oller and with'its adhesive side forwardly. andisthreadedthrough the space?be-' I tween the-guide rolleril'andithespringfl being"terminated a -short"-distance bey'on' end of the-spring It to Providea"'s'tartinglength" L. Thereupon, in usingthe device the same'si's I tosaid holding means for maintaining a substantially ilxed length of tapein a taut condition between said supply roll and said holdingmeans asthe latter is moved from said dispensing position, and means renderedeffective by said movin means when said holding means is at. a distancefrom said dispensing position for severing the tape near the dispensingposition.

2. In a device for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from asupply roll including a support for said roll: the combination ofmovably mounted means spring urged into a position wherein the sameholds a leading portion of a free length of said tape in a dispensingposition, push means actuatable to move said holding means from saiddispensing position, means coupled to said holding means and effectiveupon the tape being held stationary at said dispensing position fordrawing tape from said supply roll as the holding means is moved fromsaid dispensing position, and means coupled to said push means andoperated as said holding means is moved from said dispensing positionfor severing the tape at a distance ahead of the holding means.

3. In a device for dispensing lengths of pressure-sensitive tape from asupply roll: the combination of a support for said supply roll, movablymounted means having a normal position wherein the same holds a leadingportion of a free length of said tape in a dispensing position, acutting blade mounted for movement relative to said holding means andhaving a normal position wherein the same is free from the tape drawnfrom said roll, means positively coupled to said holding means and saidblade and actuatable for moving said holding means from said dispensingposition and concurrently positively projecting said blade into the pathof the tape ahead of said holding means, and means operated by saidactuatable means and effective upon the tape being held stationary atsaid dispensihg position for drawing tape from said supply roll as saidholding means is moved from said dispensing Position.

4; In a device for dispensing lengths of tape from a supply roll: thecombination of a support for said supply roll, a blade, a uide memberacross which the tape is drawn from said supply roll, said guide memberhaving a normal position wherein the same defines a path free from saidblade for the tape drawn from said roll, means actuatable to move saidmember towards said supply roll and concurrently to shift said path withrespect to said blade so that the tape, when tensioned ahead of saidguide member, is drawn against said blade and severed at a distanceahead of said guide member, and means coupled to said actuating means tomaintain a substantially fixed length of tape between the supply rolland said guide member as the latter is moved towards the supply roll.

5. In a taping device .comprising a support for a supply roll ofpressure-sensitive tape and a pressure roller for pressing onto anobject the tape drawn from said supply roll: the combination of meansfor holding a leading portion of the tape at said pressure roller toenable the start of a tape application, actuatable means for retractingsaid holding means from said pressure roller and for concurrentlydrawing tape from said roll upon the tape being held from backfeeding atsaid pressure roller whilesaid holding means is retracted, and meansincluding a blade operatively interposed between said pressure rollerand said holding means by said actuatable means as the holding means isretracted for causing the tape to be severed at a distance ahead of theholding means.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein,said holding meanscomprises a guide roller at the non-adhesive side of the tape andagainst which the tape is drawn as it is pulled from said device androlled by said pressure roller onto an object, and a guide member havingan end portion at the adhesive side of the tape adjacent to said guideroller for holding a starting length of tape ahead of the latter, saidend portion of said guide member being inclined relative to the axis ofsaid guide roller so that the guide member will normally have only anedge thereof contacting the adhesive side of the tape and so as tofacilitate threading the tape between said guide member and guide rollerwhen a new supply roll is installed in the device.

'7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said guide member isextended into the path of the tape back of said guide roller relative tothe direction of feed of the tape to cause the leading portion of thetape supply to project away from said blade when the tape is severed.

8. In a taping device for applying selected lengths ofpressure-sensitive tape to objects, comprising a housing having anoutlet opening, a support in said housing for a supply roll of said tapeand-a pressure roller at said opening for pressing the tape onto anobject as the device is moved thereacross: the combination of means onsaid housing holding said pressure roller on a fixed axis in relationthereto, a cutting blade in said housing, and movable means projectingfrom said housing and actuatable to increase the length of the tapebetween said supply roll and said pressure roller by an amount desiredfor a successive starting length of tape and thereupon to cause the tapeto be severed by said blade near said pressure roller.

9. In a taping device for applying selected lengths ofpressure-sensitive tape to objects, comprising a housing, a support insaid housing for a supply roll of said tape and a pressure roller onsaid housing for pressing tape onto an object: the combination of meansholding said supply roll and pressure-roller on fixed axes relative tosaid housing, a cutting blade, and means operable on the tape relativeto said pressure roller for increasing the length of the path of thetape between said supply roll and said pressure roller and forconcurring causing said blade to intersect said path, said operablemeans being normally positioned to guide the tape in a path free fromsaid blade and being movable to an operated position to increase thelength of said path by an amount suflicient for a succeeding startinglength and to cause said blade to cut the tape adjacent to said pressureroller upon the tape being tensioned against the latter.

10. In a taping device for applying selected lengths ofpressure-sensitive tape to objects, comprising a housing for a supplyroll of said tape and a pressure roller carried by said housing forpressing tape from said roll onto an object as said device is movedthereacross: the combination of a guide adapted to hold a leadingportion of the tape adjacent to said pressure roller to serve as astarting length for a tape application, said guide having a normalposition adjacent to said pressure roller and being mounted for movementaway from said roller, means coupled to said guide and manuallyactuatable to move the guide from said normal position, means operableon the tape I and said pressure roller, and means coupled to saidmanually actuatable means and rendered effective as the guide is movedfrom normal position to sever the tape at a distance ahead of said guidebetween the guide and the pressure roller.v

11. The combination set forth in claim 10, including an idler roller atthe adhesive side of the tape between-said guide and said supply roll,said idler roller having a normal position wherein the same is out ofcontact withthe tape and being coupled to said actuatable means to causeit to be moved against the tape to draw tape from said roll as saidguide is moved from normal position.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including a brake on saididler roller for locking the roller in one direction to preventback-feed of the tape should said guide be moved idly from normalposition without the tape being held at said pressure roller.

13. The-combination set forth in claim 11' wherein the peripheralsurface of said'idler roller is uneven to lessen the area of contact ofthe idler roller with the adhesive side of the tape and reduce the forcerequired to strip the tape therefrom.

14. In a taping device for applying selected.

lengths of pressure-sensitive tape to objects, comprising a support fora supply-roll of said tape and apressure roller for pressing the tapeonto an object as the device ismoved thereacross: the combination of amovably mounted blade, a movably mounted, guide having a normal positionwherein the same projects. a starting length of tape past said pressureroller, manual means for moving said guide from said pressure roller ina back-feeding direction and for concurrently moving said blade to.project it into the path 01 the tape between, said pressure roller andsaid guide, and means operable by said manual means for maintaining asubstantially fixed length of tape between theguide and'said supply rollas the guide is moved from normal position.

15. The taping device set forth inclaim wherein said guide is'airangedso that when in an actuated position it'will project the tape in advancethereof away from said blade immediately following the severing of thetape. V

16; In a taping device comprising a housing having an outlet opening atthe bottom thereof, a support in said housing for a supply roll ofpressure-sensitive tape and a pressure roller carried by said housing atsaid opening for rolling tape onto an object as the device is movedthereacross: the combination of a guide having a normal position whereinthe same projects a leading portion of the tape beside said pressureroller to serve as a starting length for a tape application, a supportmember for said guide pivoted to said housing at the non-adhesive sideof the tape drawn from saidroll, said support member having a portionprojecting from its pivot axis towards said supply roll and providedwith a slot substantially on an are about said guide as a center, alever pivoted to said housing at the axis of said supply roll, atransverse member on said lever extending through said-slot andthroughout the width of said tape, an idler roller journalled on theextending portion of said transverse member and positioned at theadhesive side of the tape drawn from said roll, spring means acting onsaid lever normally to hold said idler roller out of contact with thetape and said guide in 'itssaid normal position, push means projectingfrom said housing for turning said lever to move said idler rolleragainst the tape and concur- I rently turn said supportmember to movesaid guide from said pressure roller, a blade movably mounted above saidpressure roller, and a coupling between said blade and said supportmember for projecting the blade into the path of the tape ahead 01 saidguide as the guide is moved from said pressure roller.

1'1. In a taping device'comprising a housing having. an outlet opening.a support in said housing for a suppl roll or pressure-sensitive tapeand a pressure roller carried by said housing at said opening forrolling tape onto an object as the device is moved thereacross: thecombination of a guide having a normal position wherein the sameprojects a leading portion of the tape beside said pressure roller toserve as a starting length for a tape application, a, support member forsaid guide pivoted to said housing, said support member having a portionextending from,

its pivot axis and provided with a slot, a pivoted lever on said housingengaging said slot and actuable to move said guide from said pressureroller, a blade for severing the tape ahead of the guide as the guide ismoved from said pressure roller, means coupled to said guide for drawingtape from said roll as the guide is moved from said pressure roller,.and manually operable means coupled to said lever and adapted to havean increasing force transmitting ratio as the push means isprogressively operated.

18. In a. taping device for applying selected lengths of pressuresensitive tape to objects, comprising a housing, a support in saidhousing for a supply roll of said tape and a pressure roller carried bysaid housing for pressing tape from said roll onto an object as saiddevice is moved thereacross: the combination of a guide adapted lengthfor a tape application, said guide having a normal'position adjacent tosaid pressure roller and being mounted for movement in a backfeedingdirection away from said pressure roller, 2. blade rendered effective assaid guide is moved from normal position for severing the tape betweenthe guide and pressure roller, a member pivoted at the center of saidsupply roll for movement against the tape between said guide and thesupply roll, and means coupling said guide to said member for holdingthe guide spaced at least by its 'initial distance therefrom, as theguide is moved from normal position.

19. In a taping device comprising a housing, a support in said housingfor a supply roll of pressure-sensitive tape, and a pressure membercarried by the housing: the combination of a blade fixedly mounted inrelation to said pressure member, a. guide roller having a normalposition wherein it holds the tape free of said blade as the tape isdrawn from said device, a member for retaining a leading portion oi. thetape to said guide roller to serve as a starting length, said guideroller projecting from said housing and serving initially as a pressureroller to start a tape application, means for retracting said guideroller to cause the tape when tensioned against said pressure member tobe drawn against said blade and severed, and means coupled to said guiderollerfor drawing tape from the supply roll as the guide roller isretracted whereb to enable the guide roller to return to initialposition, folprojects a starting length of said tape outside saidhousing beside said pressure roller, said 10 mechanism being actuatableto sever the tape adjacent to said roller and render available withinthe housing a succeeding starting length of said tape which is projectedbeside said roller when said mechanism is released, a depressible memberpivotally connected to said mechanism for actu- 14 ating the latter, andcatch means effective upon pivoting said depressible member when thesame is in a depressed position for latching said mechanism in actuatedposition.

GEORGE H. FRI'IZINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,732 Krueger Mar. 19, 19462,192,634 Blomquist Mar. 5, 1940 15 2,260,489 Sim Oct. 28, 19412,452,584 Luebkeman Nov. 2, 1948

